Improvement in Breast Skin Sensibility After Breast Reconstruction: a Comparison of 3 Surgical Techniques

Last updated: April 8, 2025
Sponsor: Patricia Esther Engels
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

N/A

Treatment

Nerve Suture

Clinical Study ID

NCT06930378
SNCTP000006257
BASEC2024-02109
  • Ages 18-80
  • Female

Study Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if nerve sutures in free flap breast reconstruction can optimize sensibility in the reconstructed breast in patients opting for DIEP flap breast reconstruction due to breast cancer or genetic conditions. Affected women 18 to 80 years old can be included. The main question is:

If a nerve suture was carried out, can pressure be felt better on the reconstructed breast after 12 months? If a nerve suture was carried out, will better sensibility and quality of life be felt and perceived (questionnaire) at 12 and 24 months after the initial operation ? Researchers will compare two different nerve suture techniques and no nerve suture to one another to see if and which nerve suture optimizes sensibility.

Participants will have regular visits and follow-up controls, during which

  • their sensibility will be tested multimodally,

  • they will fill out questionnaires

  • skin biopsies will be taken.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

A) Pilot study

Inclusion criteria:

  • 18-80 years old

  • having received DIEP flap breast reconstruction with a flap not completely buried

  • having given written informed consent for participating in the study

Exclusion

Exclusion criteria:

  • postoperative radiotherapy on the flap

  • neurological conditions as diabetic neuropathy, alcoholism or any other severeunderlying peripheral neuropathy including chemotherapy-induced neuropathy orneuropathy induced by other medications

  • active smoking

  • language barrier

  • pregnancy or lactating women

B) Main study

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 to 80 years old

  • having given written informed consent for participating in the study

  • receiving immediate or delayed unilateral DIEP breast reconstruction with a DIEPflap which will not be completely buried

Exclusion Criteria:

  • autologous reconstruction where the flap is completely buried

  • patients in need of both-sided reconstruction (double DIEP)

  • postoperative radiotherapy on the flap

  • neurological conditions as diabetic neuropathy, alcoholism, or any other severeunderlying peripheral neuropathy including chemotherapy-induced neuropathy orneuropathy induced by other medications

  • active smoking

  • language barrier

  • pregnancy at time of planned DIEP flap surgery and lactation

Study Design

Total Participants: 63
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Nerve Suture
Phase:
Study Start date:
April 01, 2025
Estimated Completion Date:
February 28, 2029

Study Description

Breast reconstruction with autologous tissue is one of the most important methods: The DIEP (deep inferior epigastric artery perforator) flap is today's workhorse in autologous reconstruction. Routinely, the arteries and veins of the donor- and recipient sites are connected, but not the nerves. The sensory recovery is an undervalued aspect despite the disadvantages of insensate flaps. Connection of the abdominal flap skin's nerves to the breast region's nerves allows sensitized reconstruction. The research project aims to make sensitized flap-based breast reconstruction the standard method by proving its superiority, using the sensory testing with Semmes-Weinstein-Monofilament (pressure threshold) as the primary outcome measured before surgery and 12 months post-surgery. Therefore, patients will be randomized in three groups:

  1. sensitization with direct nerve suture or

  2. autograft or

  3. no sensitization. Moreover, no previous studies have analyzed the potential changes in flap skin with proteomics, thus justifying our secondary objective.

The hypothesis is that flaps with nerve suture(s) have better sensibility. The main outcome will be the sensory testing (pressure threshold). As secondary outcomes the questionnaire will show the patients' quality of life, and the proteomic analysis, should, according to our hypothesis, show that quantity and expression of the proteins of flap skin with nerve suture are closer to normal skin than without nerve suture.

Connect with a study center

  • Geneva University Hospitals

    Geneva, 1205
    Switzerland

    Active - Recruiting

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